Another round of talks with Rutgers management produced more demands for givebacks from our membership last week. It is time to decide whether we want to settle now or up the ante with serious actions by our members. Management wants URA members to give back more than nine million dollars by delaying contracted raises, but will not offer real job security in exchange. Management negotiators have taken an increasingly hard line by demanding more and more givebacks over the months of these discussions. Progress will require a major effort by our members. URA wants a strong no-layoff pledge, protection for grant-funded employees, pension contribution protection and the chance to bank paid leave and vacation time. Should we continue talking? Should we wait for the upcoming arbitration? Should we take more drastic action at work? Come out to a special meeting to share with your co-workers in deciding our strategy and next steps.
New Brunswick: 5:30 p.m. Thurs. Nov. 12, Labor Education Center
Newark: 12:30 p.m. Thurs. Nov. 12, Dana Library, Special Collections Room. Fourth Floor
Camden:TBD

With the URA-AFT election on Monday and the current contract dispute, Monday's regular membership meeting will be postponed to hold an emergency meeting instead on Thursday.

Eight candidates are running for five executive board seats for New Brunswick/Piscataway: Stephanie Atkins, Ginny Caputo, Sandra Jenkins, Kathy Licinski, Helen Pirrello, Mary Ann Puccio, Joyce Sagi, Karen White. You will be able to vote for your top five candidates from among the eight and the top five vote-getters will be elected to the board. See candidates statements at http://www.ura-aft.org/node/295 and polling times and locations for each campus at http://www.ura-aft.org/node/207.

Republican candidate Chris Christie won 48.9% of the votes in yesterday’s gubernatorial election, defeating Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine. For the first time in 12 years, a Republican governor will take office in NJ, which could mean rough times may be ahead for state workers and unionized employees.

With the election behind us, the legislative committee is back focusing on what legislation is moved in the upcoming session and building member activism to demand accountability from elected officials.
Wed. Nov. 11, 5:00 p.m., 75 Paterson Street, Suite 4 (URA office, directions at http://www.ura-aft.org/node/40).
rsvp: Helen Pirrello at hpirrello@ura-aft.org or call Nat Bender at 732-745-0300.

President Obama declared the H1N1 a national emergency due to widespread and rapid growth.For members looking to make an informed decision about whether or not to vaccinate, the committee recommends reviewing the information at http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=428&z=29.

URA-AFT members have many discounts and special programs through our affiliation with the AFT. Visit www.aft.org/aftplus for details. These programs are exclusively for fully signed URA-AFT members. If you are an eligible URA-AFT unit member who has not yet signed on as a full member, please reply to union@ura-aft.org and we will get to you with a membership application.